better thoughts into my heart. I think I never shall be
guilty of the crime you have saved me from committing this afternoon.
I thank God for having met you; you have made me a better man."

* * * * *

GOOD COMPANIONS.

One day, says a Persian poet, I saw a bunch of roses, and in the midst
of them grew a tuft of grass.

"How," I cried to the grass, "does a poor plant like you dare to be
found in the company of roses?"

And I ran to tear away the tuft, when the grass replied:

"Spare me! It is true, I am not a rose; but you will perceive from my
perfume that I have been among the roses."

This is a very pretty fable for young people. It makes us recollect
one of the proverbs of Solomon: "He that walketh with wise men shall
be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed," Young people
like to have companions, and it is proper that they should have them.

If we had no one to associate with, we should be unhappy. We need
friends that we may confide in, and that we may tell them what we
feel and what we think. But we must take care as to the choice of
friends; for just as the grass in the fable imbibed the scent of the
roses, so we become like those with whom we associate.

* * * * *

BERTIE'S BOX.

A very little boy by the name of "Bertie," kept a box in which he
deposited his little treasures. After he died his mother took the key
and opened it. It was full of all sorts of things. There were
specimens of stones, and shells, and moss, and grass, and dried
flowers. There were, also, curious flies, found dead; but they were
not destroyed by him, as he would never sacrifice a short sunny
existence for self gratification. There were a number of books and
small ornamental toys which had been given him--a drawing slate with
pencils, colored chalks, a small box of colors, some little plates
which he had colored, in his own untaught style--a commenced copy of
the hymn, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" an unfinished letter to his
grandpapa, and some torn leaves which he had found with passages of
scripture upon them--a copy of the "lines on the death of an only
son." Also a number of sketches of missionary stations, chapels and
schools, which he had cut out and colored. His mother once asked him
why he cut them out, saying, that there might be some reading on the
back of the pieces worth saving. "Oh no, mamma," he replied, "I looked
careful